This policy supports the Rights Respecting principles adopted by Lady Margaret Primary School and is particular relevant to the following articles:
UNICEF – Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Article 3
The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect children.
Article 6
Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to make sure that children survive and develop to their full potential.
Article 13
Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.
Article 19
Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.
Article 33
Governments must protect children from the use of illegal drugs
Article 40
A child accused or guilty of breaking the law must be treated with dignity and respect. They have the right to help from a lawyer and a fair trial that takes account of their age or situation. The child’s privacy must be respected at all times.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime define drugs as ‘A substance people take to change the way they feel, think or behave’.
The term ‘drugs’ and ‘drug education’, unless otherwise stated, is used throughout this document to refer to all drugs:
Drug use describes any drug taking. Any drug use can potentially lead to harm, including through intoxication, breach of the law or school rules or future health problems.
Drug misuse is drug taking which leads to social, psychological, physical or legal problems through intoxication, regular excessive consumption and/or dependence.
This policy was adopted to be more than a reference point in case of incidents: it will drive a proactive strategy for prevention of drug and alcohol misuse, and early intervention. This policy strives to ensure a comprehensive drugs education scheme of work is provided to all children in our school, as well as ensuring staff are confident in delivering the content of this scheme of work.
Through the development of this policy, we are ensuing that all staff know how to deliver the content but also know what safeguarding routes to follow should an incident arise.
Primary aged children need to be protected from the harm that drugs can cause and it is our responsibility to give them the knowledge and skills to be able to be healthy and keep safe.
Aims of drug education
The aim on drug education is to give pupils information about drugs and help them develop the skills and attitudes to make healthy and safe decisions about drugs, alcohol, tobacco and medicines.
To achieve this, our drug education programme will help pupils:
Where is it taught in the curriculum?
Teaching about drugs, alcohol and tobacco is taught through PSHE and in Science (year 6) where it is required in the National Curriculum.
What is taught?
We reflect the requirements and guidance in the science national curriculum, the non-statutory framework for PSHE and citizenship and the content suggested in Ealing’s PSHE and Citizenship scheme of work.
The below scheme of work shows what is taught in each Year group. Objectives and key learning intentions are set for each lesson, and on medium term plans. Drug education focuses on knowledge and understanding, skills and attitudes and the teaching programme ensures that there is progression from Year 1 to Year 6 with topics and issues included which are appropriate to the age and maturity of pupils.
Year Group 1 / Autumn PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
Year Group 2 / Autumn PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
Year Group 3 / Autumn PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
Year Group 4 / Autumn PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
Year Group 5 / Autumn PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
Year Group 6 / Autumn PSHE – Health and Wellbeing / Science – Animals including humans
Our curriculum ensures that we are covering both the statutory requirement in science to teach Year 6 to recognise the impact of drugs on the way their bodies function and the non-statutory science guidance to teach Year 6 how some drugs and other substances can be harmful to the human body and the relationship between diet, exercise, drugs, lifestyle and health.
How it is taught (including involving outside contributors)
A wide range of active teaching methods are used that enable pupils to learn skills to be safe and healthy, discuss their views, explore their own and other peoples’ attitudes and values about drugs, as well as learn key information about the effects and risks of drugs and practice skills to stay safe if involved in a drugrelated situation. Such activities include role play, discussions, debates, case studies, quizzes, research and games. Pupils work individually, in pairs, in small groups and with the whole class, mixing up so that they experience working with lots of different pupils in the class, as well as in friendship groups.
All classes establish clear ground rules to ensure that pupils discuss opinions with respect and listen to one another as well as ensuring that pupils and teachers do not disclose personal information.
Drug education is taught by the class teacher and sometimes involves the local community officer or other professionals, including Ealing’s Health Improvement Team. Where external visitors are involved a copy of this policy is given to them for reading before the session, there is also an opportunity for the external contributor to meet with the teacher to discuss expectations etc.
It is important that drug education is delivered within a safe, secure and supportive learning environment.
Ground rules/group agreement
A group agreement, established and reviewed periodically through discussion with pupils, helps to foster mutual respect and an environment in which pupils feel comfortable and ready to listen to and discuss each other’s opinions. Ground rules should cover issues such as teachers’ and pupils’ right to privacy and respect, and the boundaries of discussion. Pupils (and teachers) should be discouraged from revealing any personal information that may incriminate them or others, or that they wish to remain confidential. Setting and agreeing ground rules is an important opportunity to remind pupils of ways to ask for help, the support available, the school’s confidentiality policy and what may happen should information be disclosed.
Other strategies for teachers to manage sensitive and controversial issues include:
Teachers understand they must differentiate the material given to them for drugs education as they would with any other material. Some pupils may require a broken down approach to the material depending on their need.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that every child within their class can access the material.
Training and support for staff
We take advantage of the support, advice and training provided by Ealing Health Improvement and other local organisations. The PSHE Lead has opportunities to develop their skills in planning drug education, through support from Ealing Health Improvement Team. Staff are encouraged to seek help, advice and training if they are not confident in delivering these lessons.
Drugs education will be assessed against the aims and objectives of each lesson. Each teacher will provide evidence to show how their class has progressed through the lessons.
Ealing advises that all schools have an up to date policy drugs policy, which is a criteria for achieving Healthy Schools London Bronze status.
Although it is highly unlikely that illegal drugs will be in our primary school, we believe that drugs play a part in the lives of every one of us and recognize that drug use and misuse can have a serious effect on health, well-being and academic achievement. We therefore have a crucial role to play in drug prevention and education.
Primary aged children need to be protected from the harm that drugs can cause and it is our responsibility to give them the knowledge and skills to be able to be healthy and keep safe.
We take a positive and proactive approach to the issue of drugs and this policy aims to:
This policy is shared and updated through with staff, pupils, parents and governors.
We consulted with staff by sharing the policy and staff had an opportunity to provide feedback.
We consulted with pupils by pupil voice. We asked groups of children about the education received on drugs education and the feedback was positive and beneficial to their learning. They felt they were provided the right information and cleared up misconceptions. The Year 6 pupils enjoyed the teaching from the community police officer.
The governors of the school were consulted during governing body meetings where this policy and its contents were reviewed and discussed. Finally, we consulted with parents by forming a working party on the PSHE curriculum where they shared feedback, looked at the resources and how the lessons would be
delivered. Questionnaires on the teaching and learning on the PSHE curriculum can be reviewed at the end of the year.
We feel we have engaged the whole school community in the reviewing of this policy as outlined in the DfE guidance of 2012 and we feel the views of all parties is reflected in this policy.
This policy is to be used by the whole school community (staff, pupils, parents/carers/guardians and governors)
The policy is on the school’s website and a copy can be requested from the school office.
Any outside contributors involved in drug education, receive a copy prior to teaching.
Pupils are taught about the content of the policy in drug education.
As part of being a healthy school we take a whole school approach to drugs through
* This policy links closely to our PSHE and safeguarding policy.
All young people need high quality drug and alcohol education so they have a thorough knowledge of their effects and harms and have the skills and confidence to choose not to use drugs and alcohol. Schools have a clear role to play in preventing drug and alcohol misuse as part of their pastoral responsibilities to pupils. (HM Government, 2010).
Schools are advised to have a written drugs policy to act as a central reference point for all school staff. (DfE and ACPO drug advice for schools 2012)
LMPS does not permit the possession, use or supply of any illegal or legal drug (unless authorised legal drug), which takes place within the school boundaries, this includes drug paraphernalia. This covers; on or near the school premises, within the school day and during term time, on school visits, school journeys to and from school and at school social events.
These rules apply equally to staff, pupils, parents and carers, governors and those working and visiting the school. (see Drugs and misuse policy).
Management of authorised drugs
This school has agreed that there are circumstances, when some legal drugs are authorised for use in school.
These are prescribed medicines, hazardous chemicals (and solvents). See Medical policy
In managing drugs, schools need to have regard to issues of confidentiality. Teachers cannot and should not promise total confidentiality. The boundaries of confidentiality should be made clear to pupils. If a pupil discloses information which is sensitive, not generally known, and which the pupil asks not to be passed on, the request should be honoured unless this is unavoidable in order for teachers to fulfil their professional responsibilities in relation to:
Information about a pupil in relation to drugs will follow the same procedure as for other sensitive information. If teachers have any concerns about the welfare of children, they must inform the Head teacher and Safeguarding Lead.
Every effort should be made to secure the pupil’s agreement to the way in which the school intends to use any sensitive information. It may be necessary to invoke local child protection procedures if a pupil’s safety is under threat. It should be only in exceptional circumstances that sensitive information is passed on against a pupil’s wishes, and even then the school should inform the pupil first and endeavour to explain why this needs to happen. These exceptions are defined by a moral or professional duty to act:
This policy is reviewed every two years by the entire school body.
This includes staff, pupils, parents/carers/guardians and governors.
If an incident should occur, the policy is reviewed in the light of that incident.
The review will include feedback from the evaluations of drug education, included in the annual review of PSHE and Citizenship.
The PSHE Lead is responsible for the development, monitoring and review of the drug education curriculum, supporting and training staff and liaising with any external agencies to support the curriculum.
The Headteacher has overall responsibility for drugs issues including managing drug-related incidents, liaising with the Police and other external agencies, including support services. The DfE guidance of 2012 states that is it strongly advised to have a senior member of staff to have responsibility for this policy and for liaising with the local police and support services.
Relevant local and national guidance
Useful local and national contacts
Approved by:
Full Governing Body
Date:
3rd September 2020
Last reviewed on:
August 2020
Next review due by:
August 2022